Disclaimer: Nope, don't own them, except for those that are mine of course:)

Note: Hey there, let's see this is not the first fan fic I ever wrote but the first for this show. I wanted to write a general story set in Season 3 so it won't be based around a particular ship but rather include many relationships plus new characters and some returning ones. (plenty of Alec though)Hopefully this will give the whole Familiar storyline a more intriguing ending than the one offered in the novels but that's for you to judge. Reviews and suggestions are of course welcome.

P.S. Some info has also been borrowed from D. A. Stern's "Eyes Only Dossier"

1. " Home"

Seattle, Washington, 2021

8:30 P.M.

It was a cold rainy evening, not unusual for Seattle this time of year. Yet while the rest of the city appeared empty and lifeless one place stood out like a fog-light in the semi-darkness. Surrounded by the flickering colors of police sirens and rows of armed vehicles, Terminal City rose like a great shadow against the clouded sky. Its main entrance was blocked off by soldiers, their faces tired and restless as they eyed the darkness beyond the fence with fearful curiosity. Meanwhile outside the barricades a crowd of onlookers has gathered: journalists, television crews and locals, all waiting to see the big finale. After weeks of tension the stalemate was about to be broken.

"It has been three weeks since the start of the siege that has turned this once desolate area into a potential war zone. During this time we have been witness to several confrontations that have resulted in casualties on both sides yet so far the military has not launched any large scale attack. However it looks like tonight this situation might change…" A Channel 3 reporter with a spot in the front paused, listening intently to her earpiece. "This just in, I'm told the Congressional Task Force headed by Senator McKinley in collaboration with the city council and General Nelson are going to issue an ultimatum…" The man next to her was already rushing on.

"It's official, the military is preparing a full-on attack on the compound if the transgenics do not surrender by midnight, that's one and a half hours from now…" Behind the barricades the soldiers started to push the crowd apart making a pathway.

"That's the general." One of the cameramen pointed as the others moved past him.

"General, is it true that you're planning to use large scale explosives?" The first woman shouted. Nelson, a stout man of about fifty nodded stiffly at the approaching group.

"Quite right, it would be wise to avoid any more direct confrontations with these so called super-soldiers."

"What about the CDC's warning that the area could still be a bio-hazard?"

"There has been no proof of continued contamination; however the surrounding areas will be evacuated as soon as possible."

"Have there been no attempts at negotiation? Do these people not deserve a fair trial?" Another voice called out. The general turned to the speaker, a tall lanky youth with a "New World Weekly" badge on the jacket, and nailed him with an icy look.

"The council has deemed that at this point negotiations would be unnecessary, we have already wasted too much time. The transgenic threat must be contained, one way or another."

"What will happen to them in case of surrender?" The same guy persisted.

"I'm afraid I'm not authorized to speak about that" Nelson replied dismissively, moving away from the pesky reporter. He ordered his soldiers to begin clearing the area immediately and then walked out of the media crowd, past the rows of people waving anti-transgenic slogans and towards his own private vehicle. Once inside he flipped on the small TV screen and watched as Senator McKinley made his official statement at the press conference in Washington, then his phone rang. "Yes, yes I'm watching it. Tell them everything is ready. Fe'nos tol."

Standing silently on the roof of Terminal City, the wind playing with her dark hair, X5 452 better known as Max watched the flag they put up with so much hope tattering against the twilight sky.Three weeks have passed since the siege began; three weeks of watching her people suffer, knowing it was entirely her fault, locked up in a desolate city that has become a prison rather than a refuge. This was nothing like she planned; there have been no negotiations with the authorities or the media, no outside contact at all actually after the first few days. The soldiers shot at anyone who came within sight of the fence. They were cut off from any radio transmissions; the city has shut the water supply and ignored her repeated appeals for an official hearing. The people she promised to protect were slowly dying out and it almost made her glad for the news of the attack, at least their nightmare would soon be over.

1 hour before midnight

Logan Cale paced back and forth across the dimly lit room, his mind in turmoil, still unable to believe this was happening. It's been sixteen days since Max had made him, OC and Sketchy leave Terminal City, knowing the health risks involved in staying longer; she had gotten Clemente's help in allowing them free passage. Unfortunately this favor had cost the man his position, and he was not allowed anywhere near the compound again. After that all communications seized, the National Guard kept a constant watch on the perimeter, there was no way to know what was going on inside, no way to reach her.

He returned to Joshua's house, working day and night, using all his contacts, anything that might give him some information, some hope of helping her through this but it proved useless. Even his Eyes Only hacks, which he risked despite the danger of being traced again, did little to sway the public's mood or change the council's decision. Fear was a powerful opponent, fueled by the enigmatic speeches of people like McKenley it spread as quickly as it did in the days after the Pulse. Back then people needed someone to blame for their misery; and they went after anyone who was different, now they were given their scapegoat and there was little that could make them listen to reason.

In the old house withstained black windows Logan closed his eyes and prayed for a miracle.

All about Terminal City the transgenics were waiting, the same thing they have done for days on end. They waited and tried to hold on to every moment knowing how little there might be left. After three weeks of incarceration, with no more food or medicine and very little drinking water left, Manticore's genetically superior creations looked like ghosts already.

Glancing around the TC control room, Alec wondered if that's how he looked like as well. He certainly felt like shit, hungry, dehydrated and, he had to admit, tired. He thought of changes, of a year in which his whole life was turned upside down, of the people who became his first real friends and it just seemed so wrong that all of that was to be for nothing.

"I can't believe we're gonna have to die in this shit-hole." Mole grumbled, voicing the same thoughts as he took a seat by him and lit a cigar. "Only one left." He showed the nearly empty case. "Think I should save it for last?"

"Yeah, just in case we do live through this." The other responded quietly, knowing well that those words could not compete with the vivid images on the monitors above them : the crowds cheering and yelling outside and the soldiers that now needed only a signal to start the attack.

"You don't believe that and neither does anyone else." The X5 didn't reply. A cynic by nature he had little hope for their current situation yet decided not to share his thoughts for the sake of those who still had some. The lizard-man of course blamed Max for everything and so did many others but while Alec was by no means happy with how things turned out he couldn't bring himself to do the same. No matter how much they fought and argued Max was still a friend. She had asked them to take a risk that night and they did, that's all there was to it. Alec smiled, if he had to die tonight, at least he might wind up in a classier place than this. Maybe it would even have hot water.

"Renfro was right. I am poison, to everyone around me." Max repeated, her voice thick. They were inside Joshua's one room apartment, one he's only moved into a week ago and the only place she could now be in. It was too hard to face the others, knowing they had trusted her with their lives and that she has failed. Joshua at least would not judge her. The dog-man was now beside her, trying to comfort his friend the best way he knew how.

"Max did all she could. Joshua stay with Max no matter what happens." He said gently. The X5 looked up at him and saw both trust and devotion. That only made her guilt worst.

"I was an idiot Josh. I told them to stay, I made them think we had a chance and they believed me. I should have known better." Like a broken record the faces of those they berried since the siege began flashed over and over again through her mind.

"Little fella did the right thing. We can't run anymore." Max shook her head angrily.

"I won't even get to say goodbye to Logan or OC." She whispered, thinking of the two people she loved most. Never has she missed them more than now. Joshua looked down at her trembling shoulders and said the only thing he could think of.

"Not all over. Still some time left."

"Well this is it people, if anyone still has something to say or do now's the time." Alec said to no one in particular. The last half hour before their fate was decided was quickly becoming unbearably boring to the young transgenic.

"We can always give them something to remember us by." Mole offered. "No use letting the ammo we stored go 'boom' when we do." Most of the gathered transgenics barely looked up. Some regretted they didn't run when they had the chance, some still thought about it now and others simply waited, lost in memories. As soldiers they could not be afraid of death.

"I thought her highness hasn't given them an answer yet." The tall, dark-skinned 462, or Leo as he called himself, asked from the front of the room. He was the leader of the Oak Street X's before Max came along and thought it his place to question her every move.

"She won't surrender in a million years." Mole snorted at the idea. "Not that I'd want that, being holed up in a cage or become a lab-rat for the ordinaries." He made a face then turned to Alec. "How about it pretty-boy? Feel like a little action to brighten up our last moments?"

"I'll pass." The other replied, perfectly aware that they were in no shape to put up a fight. "Better to go down quickly than risk getting shot and bleeding to death." Getting up he moved towards the lower exit. "I'm just gonna go for air, call me if anything happens." He knew it sounded silly. In reality he wanted to find her, try to be the friend she rarely allowed him to be. Mole followed him with a knowing but slightly disgusted look. The X's, he thought, were too emotionally human for their own good.

"Sir!" Dix called loudly from the upper platform before Alec reached the door. "The transmitter sir, looks like something is trying to come through." He pointed to the big, old-fashioned monitor they acquired at one of the city's abandoned labs and now everyone could see the faint outline of a face through the static. Alec was up the stairs in a split of a second.

"Adjust it, do whatever, just make it work." He urged impatiently as the pale transhuman fiddled with the controls. It was too early for the military to call and they would have just done it directly. Something else was trying to make contact with them, their last chance perhaps.

"We have a connection." Dix announced quietly and a man's face appeared on the screen. He looked like a typical government official, with a neat black suit and tie and an air of self-importance.

"Find Max." Alec ordered before giving the caller his attention. The man was studying him curiously, noting that even three weeks of near starvation couldn't diminish perfectly engineered good looks.

"494 I presume."

"That's right." The X5 responded promptly, deciding to ignore the use of his designation or that the man seemed to know him for the time being. "Who the hell are you?"

"I could be a friend." He paused. "For now you can call me Bartley." Alec relaxed his stance, making it seen that he was ready to listen though by no means trust the stranger. It was obvious he was a federal man and if the feds went to the trouble of making contact now it could mean there was a deal to be made.

"Ok Bartley, as you probably know we don't have much time left so what can I do for you?" The other smiled pleasantly. They instructed him on this particular soldier and he knew how the game was best to be played.

"The question is 494, what can I do for you?"

"Meaning ?"

"If I'm not mistaken..." He glanced at his wristwatch, "there are precisely 20 minutes left before you have to make a choice between death and a life of imprisonment. I'd like to offer you a chance to avoid both." Alec had to smile at the way he presented the set up. Of course this was the perfect opportunity for the government to get back what was theirs.

"Right, and can I ask by whose authority this oh-so-convenient rescue offer is made?". Bartley smirked.

"I see you're all business 494, most commendable." He responded before finally turning serious. "I'd like to speak to your leader if she is around." Alec tensed.

"Max is..."He was cut off.

"Right here." The brunette in question supplied, as she made her way to the side of her second-in-command. "I'm listening."

"It's nice to finally meet you 452..." Bartley began, thinking that the picture they've shown him from this woman's CDC medical record did not do her justice.

"Max, my name is Max and this is Alec." She retorted coldly. When Dix had told her about the man she sensed trouble, now seeing him she was sure of it and liked him even less. Yet if what she overheard so far was true he might be the only one who could save them.

"As you wish, Max. Now that everyone's here I'll cut to the point. As I already told your soldier-boy I want to make an offer, a direct offer mind, sanctioned by some very powerful people in the White House."

"If it has anything to do with making us your killer puppets again then you can forget it." She said with the same icy tone but her dark eyes were blazing.

"Ah, so much anger on such a pretty face." Bartley grinned wickedly. "Let me assure you that that is not the case. What this country doesn't need is an army of unwilling and resentful super-soldiers that would bolt the first chance they got."

"What do you want then?"

"Let's call it occasional assistance. You supply us with the combatants we need for singular missions, no life insurance, no questions asked. In return you'll be paid a set price in case of success. We let you live the way you like in that toxic city of yours, pay you for doing the stuff you were created to do and everyone's happy. What do you say?"

"I'd say that's a bit too much trouble to go to just to get some genetically enhanced muscle." Alec commented, voicing his opinion of both the man and his offers in the resentful tone of his voice.

"Ah but you see we are merely protecting our investments Alec." Bartley replied calmly, ignoring his hostility. "It would be crazy to let those military bozos blow up a million's worth of tax dollars, not to mention years of hard work. Since things didn't go as we planned and the world found out about your existence we might as well make the best of it. Your kind is still a valuable and very expensive resource boy, and not just to us." Max flared at his words but her second's warning look held her back from making a sharp reply.

"Since you've got everything so well planned out you have to realize that we have no reason to trust your promises." She said instead.

"True, you also don't have a choice." Bartley replied with some amusement. "Fortunately though, I want to play this fair. If you agree now I'll make some calls and..." he gave his watch a quick glance again, "in fifteen minutes you'll be able to walk out there and find yourselves free to leave, at your own risk of course. If not, well you know how it goes."

"You'll call off the siege, just like that?"

"The order specifically states that all current Terminal City residents are the property of the United States government and are thus under its protection. It also puts me personally in charge of handling any problems involving the authorities or the civilian population."

"In other words, you're the new boss."

"Only on paper. We have to show the public that we're in control Max, it's the only peaceful way to resolve this situation, surely you can see that." Bartley continued to smile pleasantly while the X5 considered her options. She looked over her shoulder to try and find the answer in the crowd waiting below but their faces were unreadable. The only audible sound was that of military planes circling far above, ready to dump their explosive cargo on the city. After a moment Mole moved forward and looked up at the her impassively.

"You started this," He said roughly. "So I say, you get to end it." Others around him were nodding their agreement. She turned to her second-in-command.

"The guy's a puffed-up jerk Max," Alec said so quietly only a transgenic would hear "but right now, he's the only chance we've got. We have to stall for time." He heard her sigh. As the seconds ticked away Max knew there was no other way out of this, she could see the faces of her siblings, Zack, Brin, Tinga, Ben, all the people who have suffered or died because of her, the people she couldn't save.

Taking a deep breath Max turned back towards the man on the screen. "We accept." She said quietly. Below her they all heard but remained silent.

"Excellent." The self-assured smile got bigger. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint me Max, I'll send someone to sign your contract in the morning. This will be a profitable partnership for both sides I believe, if of course you stick to the rules." He gave her a last look over. "Pleasant dreams."

They all stood still as the time passed and when midnight was gone and nothing happened the control room slowly emptied, the residents drifting off to a troubled sleep. Max returned to her favorite place up on the roof. Terminal City lay quiet below, maybe for the first time since they came there. Max looked down at the now empty entrance and then to their flag wavering lightly in the wind. A hopeful smile graced her delicate features. Whatever else might happen this was the place she could finally call home.

Inside his dimly lit office Colonel James Bartley also watched the city skylight yet his thoughts were much more pleasant. The first part of his mission was a complete success. As the digital clock on the table turned to six the phone in front of him beeped insistently. After a brief hesitation he pushed the right button. "Phase one is complete." He stated firmly to the person on the other end. "I've called off the hounds."

"Good, you know what to do now Bartley. Don't disappoint me." The voice of the speaker cut like a knife and like always it made the colonel shiver.

"Yes, sir." He replied quickly.

Ok, it's a bit action deprived but it's an introduction. I'll try and make up for that later. Anyway tell me what you think. Please.